Chapter 2
Every time it was over, Jasper would fall asleep almost instantly.
I would quietly gather our clothes scattered across the floor and toss them into the washing machine. Out of habit, I always checked the pockets before washing.
One night, I pulled out a bottle of unsealed folic acid.
That bottle alone turned me into Sherlock Holmes.
I secretly went through Jasper’s phone, and what I found confirmed everything: endless chat logs with Bianca.
Shopping records showed luxury goods worth millions. Credit card records showed a house and a luxury car–all bought for her.
Like every cheating man, he drowned his mistress in endless indulgence.
And when I had broken my leg in the mountains, begging him to drive me to the hospital, he was busy taking Bianca up to the Rockies to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, swearing eternal love to her in flowery vows.
When I was bent under the weight of my mother–in–law, caring for bedpans and cleaning up after her in the hospital, he was with Bianca in Paris, renting the most expensive love suite, hiring ten servants, never leaving the room for a month, proudly recording how they had unlocked 108 different positions.
He used my hard–earned cash to pamper his mistress and play with investments as I worked my fingers to the bone raising and selling chickens to make a living.
Now, all the guests at the party were gathered, staring at me–the woman who had suddenly appeared. Their eyes were filled with a curious, almost eerie gaze.
I gave a cold laugh.
Slowly, without haste, I reached into my bag and pulled out my marriage certificate with Jasper. “You ignored the law, living with another woman’s husband, having children in his name. Tell me, who’s really the one being shameless here?”
Bianca’s face drained of color. She turned to Jasper with a pitiful look, playing the classic manipulative damsel act, baiting his instinct to protect her.
Meanwhile, Jasper lunged for the marriage certificate, but I flicked my wrist, leaving him grasping at air.
He glared at me, his voice low and furious.
“I told you not to make a scene. Don’t you understand?” Jasper said authoritatively, as if I were just one of his employees, and he was the boss giving orders.
I laughed coldly, my gaze locked on him.
Had he forgotten?
Back then, he was nothing more than a puppy at my feet. Now he’s still a dog, just fawning over someone else’s woman, but he seems to forget that the same water that lifts a boat can also sink it. I built him up, and I could tear him down completely.
Chante-2
2/3
2004
4:31 pm P P pp.
“Why do you keep saying I’m making a scene? Isn’t it kind of tradition–back in the day, if a husband messed around, the other woman would at least show some respect to the wife? I even brought her two chickens to take care of her health. I’d say that’s more than generous for a first wife,” I said, calm and controlled, not yelling or whining, but every word landed like a knife, cutting through their pride.
Jasper’s face grew darker, sweat beading cold across his forehead.
The guests‘ whispers swirled, fueling his shame even more.
Someone muttered aloud, “So the twins are illegitimate, then?”
Bianca broke into tears, clutching the children, looking every inch the helpless victim. “Jasper, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. The children and I shouldn’t have existed in the first place. I’ll take them and leave.”
She intentionally directed her tear–filled eyes at me, appearing as if I had bullied her past her limit.
“I’m not looking to start a fight, but I can stay out of your way. You can have Jasper. I ask that you stop smearing me and not drag my kids into this.”
With that, she turned as if to leave, playing her retreat–to–advance game.
And sure enough, Jasper fell for it. Panic flashed across his face as he hurriedly pulled her and the babies into his arms.
The picture they made looked like a happy family of four.
He glanced at me, eyes conflicted, then raised his voice.
“If
you have a problem, take it on me, Katie. Don’t bully Bianca. We’ve been separated for a long time, the divorce is already in process!”
4:31 pm PT
P
